Marilyn Gladu’s defection means the PM is just one seat short of the majority he says he needs to deal with Trump
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenReutersPublished: 4:11am, 9 Apr 2026A Canadian opposition legislator defected to the ruling Liberal Party on Wednesday, leaving Prime Minister Mark Carney on the verge of a parliamentary majority that would make it easier to push through his agenda.
The centrist Liberals, governing with a minority after the April 2025 election, need opposition support to pass key legislation. Carney says he needs a majority to deal with US President Donald Trump’s trade measures.
The prime minister welcomed the defection by Marilyn Gladu – a long-standing member of the right-leaning Conservatives – saying it would help the government at a time of global uncertainty.
Gladu is the fourth Conservative legislator to defect to the Liberals since November. A member of the small left-leaning New Democratic Party joined the Liberals last month.
“We need a global leader with a plan to make a more resilient Canada, a stronger Canada, a more self-reliant Canada for this critical moment and that man is our Prime Minister Mark Carney,” Gladu said during a meeting with Carney.
The Liberals now have 171 seats in the 343-seat House of Commons, one short of a majority, and look set to gain at least two more in special elections due to be held on Monday to fill vacant seats.
